Spring-wheel for vehicles.



T. S. DUNN. SPRING WHEEL FOR VBHIGLES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1907. 1 Patented July 13 V z/zoditalor (ass "45 rooves 3 and are preferably provided with UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. DUNN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASS IGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE RENWICK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SPRING-WHEEL FOR VEHICLE S.

No. 927,511. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 13, 1909. Application filed November 4, 1907. Serial No. 400,670.

Segments or blocks 10 are attached to or connected with-the heads 9 in such manner, as by a loosely fitting dovetail, that a li nited radial movement of the parts is permitted, as shown in 5 this dovetail forming a loose connection; The rib or tongue 11 of the dovetail does not extend to the ends of the head 9 and fits in the grooves 12 of the blocks 10 so loosely that the parts can readily assume the position shown in said figure 5 without the blocks becoming separated from the heads, as in case of a breakage of the rim or tire each block 10 extends over two of the heads 9. In this manner the blocks become floating members between said heads and the tire, having a limited longitudinal movement owing to the spaces between their adjacent ends. The separation of the blocks 10 from the remainder of the wheel is also further prevented by flexible connectors, as 7.5 annular disks 13 of leather, or other suitable material, the inner edge of each of which connector is secured between one of the side plates of the wheel and the rim 5, and the outer edge is secured to the side of the the 30 in any suitable manner as by cement or glue.

The outer face of each of the blocks 10, of the floating rim, is grooved as shown at 14 in which a pne'umatimtire 15, or solid tire 16, may be seated in the usual manner. The 5 inner face of the tire is forced into its seat 14 with suilicicnt pressure to prevent any movement between the blocks and the rim except the slight longitudinal movement of the blocks when any portion of its rim is com- 90 pressed, as herein'before referred to. permit of this seating of thetire and also to secure a larger area of contact between the tire and the annular disks 13, for securing them thereto, the outer edges of the disks are slightly flared outward as shown at 17. The strain of the disks over the sides of the heads 9 has a vtendene to prevent the lateral movement of the blocks 10 which might occur owing to the looseness between the sides 100 of the ribs 11 and the grooves 12.

Su' plementary springs 18 may be provided between the cross head 9 and the bushings .to aid in the outward pressure of the bars, particularly where long spoke 105 bars are used. The frame shown is ada ted to use in difi'erent size wheels, the s oke ars 6 being replaced by longer spoke ars, and the springs 18 in this case being correspondingly longer. In case the longer spoke 110 I To all whom it may concem:

,Be it known that I, THOMAS S. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Spring-Wheel for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of this invention is to provide a vehicle wheel with means whereby the tire or rim yields automatically in passing over obstructions, the yielding being confined to the part adjacent to the ground, thus producing a similar effect to that ofa pneumatic tire.

1.5 Another object of the invention is to provide for a smooth continuous transfer of the yielding action from point to point of the wheel circumference.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 20 is a side elevation partly in section, of a wheel embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a "transverse, radial section showing a pneumatictire; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a solid tire. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the blocks or members of the wheel, and Fig. 5 is a section showing the position assumed lby some of the parts in deformation under oad.

The wheel comprises a hub to which are secured, by bolts, rivets or other suitable means, two disks or plates 1 and l. The hub is: preferably formed from two twin' members 2 and 2 which are similar to each other and provided with radially arranged recesses 3 which are adapted to face each other when the hub sections are secured in position, and thereby form spoke tubes.

ushings 1 may be secured in these tubes and are )relerably formed in halves or sec- 40 tions wit one section in the recesses of each of the hub sections 3.

The outer edges of the plates or disks 1, 1

are secured by bolts or otherwise to a rim 5 which is perforated'in alinement with the uehings 5 the hub 2, 2, disks 1, 1, and rim 5 constitute a frame for support of the spoke bars. Reci rocally mounted in the tubes of the hub an perforations of the rim are rods or s oke bars 6, which are pressed outwardly by elical springs 7, the outer ends of each spring engaging with a stop 8. The outer end of each bar 6 carries a cross bar or cross head 9, each bar and head forming a radially movable spoke member.

other bars are of larger diameter, the bushings t, 5 l are replaced by thinner bushings. These bushings are also replaceable in case of wear. l In operation, the pressure of the wheel on l the ground causes the lowermost sections or blocks it) to be pressed inwardly toward the l center of the wheel. Each block 10 as it is pressed in presses in the spoke bars (3 whose heads t) engage with the block. Thus, if! only one block is being pressed. in the. two l spoke bars (3 whose heads 9) engage said 1 block are pressed in. But it the joint between two blocks is at the bottom of thel wheel, as shown in Fig. 5, so that two blocks i are pressed in, then the three spoke bars whose heads 9 are engaged by these two blocks will be pressed in. Therefore at least l two of the bars are always in action and thel strain passes smoothly and continuously t from each spoke bar to the next, in the rotat tion of the wheel. On the other hand the rcmaining bars and springs of the wheel are not allectcd, for the time being, so that breakage of any one part does not affect the operation ot the other parts. Moreover, in 1 case of breakage of the spring of one spoke bar, the blocks engaged by that bar may be 1 fastened rigidly together by any suitable clamps, and the two then act one section, transmitting the pressure to the spoke bars 1 6 at each side of the break. 1 In case a pneumatic tire is used with the wheel the device has the znlvantage that the i tire is always held to the wheel even when the tire collapses by reason ol puncture or for causes. Under such conditions a l rigid rim would allow the tire to slip oil, but I with the present construction the spoke members (3, t) autoinatically move outward, taking up the slackness in the tire and retaining the latter in place.

What l claim isz 1. A wheel comprising a frame, spoke bars 1 radially movable therein, springs supported l by said l'rame and pressing said spoke bars outwardly. ressure receiving members outi spoke.

side of the spoke bars, each of said pressure receiving members extending over and engaging two of the spoke bars, and a tongue and groove connection between the said pressure receiving member and each of-the spoke bars with which it engages.

2. A wheel comprising a tubes, spoke bars movable in said tubes and each having a cross-head, springs sup ion-ted by the frame for pressing the h'polie bars outwardly, floating pressure receiving blocks each extending over two of the heads, and a loose'dove-tail connection between each block and such. two heads.

A wheel comprising a frame consisting of a rim, side members and a hub formed in halves, fastened together, the inner faces of said halves of the hub being grooved to form spoke tubes, removable bushings in said spoke tubes, spoke bars slidable in said busha cross-head, springs ings and each having the bushings 1n the in the tubes engaging hub and the spoke bars for pressings'aid bars outwardly, and pressure receiving blocks, each extending over and loosely connected to two of the cross-heads.

4. A wheel comprising a Frame having a hub formed with spoke tubes, side plates and a run, spoke bars movable in said spoke tubes and. each having a cross head, springs engaging said hub and the spoke bars for pressing the spoke bars outwardly, a spring between each cross head and the aforesaid rim for pressing the spoke bar outwardly, and pressure receiving blocks, each extending over two of the heads, each block being loosely connected to the two heads over which it extends.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 25th day ol" (lctober .1907.

THOMAS S. DUNN In presence of lREHERIOK S. LYON, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM.

frame having 

